Condenser



Nov..l1, 1930. J. F. GRACE CONDENSER Filed March -8, 1928 JOHN F. GRACE- ENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. GRACE, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 'WORTHINGTON POI? AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK," N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA CONDENSER Application filed larch 8,

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type and an object of the invention is to provide a condenser structure and mounting which will relieve the support- 9 ing structure of a turbine, with which the condenser isassociated, of downward deflection due to atmospheric pressure, eliminate the use of springs and permit rigid bolting of the condenser to the foundation in the condenser mountin and which will materially reduce vibration of the condenser and the consequent wear of the tubes and their packing.

More specifically, the invention comprises a condenser having the exhaust inlet, condensate reservoir or hot well, exhaust inlet and hot well connections of substantially equal cross sectional areas so that atmospheric pressure bearing on top of the turbine exhaust 99 casing is balanced-by upward atmospheric pressure beneath the hot well and taken in compression by suitable columns connecting the exhaust connection and hot well; and it also comprises expansion joints between the condenser and exhaust connection and between the condenser and hot well, as well as suitable means for steadying the structure to prevent undue lateral vibration but permitthe necessary vertical movement.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved condenser and mounting.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the improved condenser and mounting.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a steam turbine of any suitable construction is indicated in outline at A and the exhaust casin 1 of the turbine is connected by means 0 an exhaust inlet member 2 and expansion joint 3 with the condenser 4. The condenser 4 may be of any conventional approved type, such as a surface condenser, jet

I 59 condenser or the like, without departing 1828. Serial No. 260,016,

. by upward atmospheric ressure beneath the condensate reservoir or ot well 5 and such atmospheric ressure thrust will be taken by columns 7 w ich are rigidly attached to the inlet member 2 and the condensate reservoir 5 in any suitable manner, such as by brackets 8, and it will be'noted that these columns are connected to the member 2 and reservoir 5 outwardly of the expansion joints 3 and 6.

The construction above described relieves the turbine supporting structure of downward deflection due to atmospheric pressure, and permits the eliminating of springs in the mounting of the condenser and rigid bolting of the condenser to the foundation, as shown at 9 to reduce condenser vibration and the consequent wear on the condenser tubes and their packing.

To prevent undue lateral vibration of the hot well or condensate reservoir, a steadybearing 10 is provided which comprises a suitable guide 11 rigidly attached to the foundation 12 and the sliding member 13 which is carried by the condensate reservoir 5 and slides vertically in the guide 11. This steady-bearing 10 will permit vertical movement of the condensate reservoir 5 but will prevent lateral movement thereof.

It will .be'understood that "the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that these ma; be modified widely within the invention efined by the claims.

What isclaimed is:

1. The combination, of a condenser,- an exhaust steam inlet member, a condensate reservoir, and expansion 'oints between said condenser and inlet mem er and between the c0n- 100 denser and reservoir and means establishing rigid tying connection between said inlet member and said condensate reservoir.

2. The combination, of a condenser, an exhaust steam inlet member, a condensate reservoir, an expansion joint between said condenser and inlet member, an expansion 'oint between the condenser and reservoir, an columns connected to said inlet member and reservoir outwardly of said expansion oints, the cross-sectional areas of said inlet member and said reservoir being substantially equal.

3. The combination, of a condenser, an exhaust steam inlet member, a condensate reservoir, an expansion joint between the condenser and inlet member, an expansion joint between the condenser and reservoir, columns connected to said inlet member and reservoir outwardly of said expansion joints, and means associated with said reservoir to prevent lateral movement and permit vertical movement thereof.

4. The combination, of a condenser, an exhaust steam inlet member, a condensate reservoir, an expansion joint between the condenser and inlet member, an expansion joint between the condenser and reservoir, the cross sectional areas of said inlet member and reservoir being substantially equal, a steadybearing associated with the reservoir to prevent lateral movement and permit vertical movement of the reservoir, and columns connected to said inlet member and reservoir outwardly of said expansion joints.

5. The combination with a turbine, of a condenser, an exhaust inlet member, an expansion joint connecting the inlet member to the condenser, a condensate reservoir, an expansion joint between the condenser and reservoir, the cross sectional areas of said inlet member, reservoir and expansion joints being substantially equal, whereby downward atmospheric pressure on the exhaust casing of the turbine will be balanced by upward at mospheric pressure on the bottom'of the condensate reservoir and rigid columns outside I reservoir.

ture.

condenser, an exhaust inlet member between the condenser and turbine, a condensate reservoir, the cross sectional areas of said inlet ervoir and means outwardly of the condenser shell establishing rigid tying connection between said inlet member and said condensate 8. The combination, of a condenser, an exhaust steam inlet. memberL: condensate reservoir, expansion joints tween said condenser and inlet member and between the condenser and reservoir, and means outside of the condenser shell establishing rigid tyin connection between said inlet member an said condensate reservoir.

9. The combination, of a condenser, an exhaust steam inlet member, a condensate reservoir, said condenser connected to said inlet member and said condensate reservoir to permit relative movement of the condenser inlet member and reservoir,'atmos heric pressure distributing means outside 0 the condenser shell rigidly connecting said inlet member and reservoir, and means associated with said reservoir to permit vertical movement thereof and preventing its lateral movement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- JQHN F. GRACE.

of said condenser shell connecting the reser- V I voir and inlet member.

6. The combination with a turbine of a condenser, an exhaust inlet member, an expansion joint connecting the inlet member to the condenser a condensate reservoir, an expansion oint between the condenser and reservoir, the cross sectional areas of said inlet member, reservoir and expansion joints being substantially equal whereby downward atmospheric pressure on the exhaust casing of I the turbine willbe balanced by upward atmospheric pressure on the bottom of the condensate reservoir, rigid columns connecting the reservoir and inlet member, and a steadybearing associated with said condensate reservoir to prevent lateral movement and permit vertical movement of the reservoir.

7. The combination with a turbine, of a 

